• Necropoli della Banditaccia - The Etruscans, who lived in central-western Italy between Tuscany and Lazio, thrived from the 9th Century B.C., reaching a cultural peak around the 6th Century B.C. before eventually fading due to the influence of Roman civilization, with which they partially merged. The origins of the Etruscans remain uncertain, and no similar community with comparable ethnic and social traits has been found between Europe and Asia.
  The tombs at the Cerveteri Necropolis exhibit diverse characteristics, varying by construction period and technique. Thousands of these tombs are located in the expansive archaeological site of Cerveteri. They are organized in an urban layout resembling a city with streets, piazzas, and neighborhoods, with their styles differing based on the historical period and the family’s status. Notable examples include the Tomb of the Greek Vases from the 6th Century, accessible via a corridor resembling an Etruscan temple. The Tomb of the Cornice features an inclined walkway leading to two smaller rooms with funerary beds, continuing to a large central room connected to three main funerary rooms. The Tomb of the Capitelli is distinguished by its flat roof, mirroring an Etruscan home’s design with oak and reed support beams. The most renowned tomb at Banditaccia is the Tomb of Reliefs, completed in the 4th Century B.C. It is reached by a long stairway carved into the rock, leading to a large room supported by two columns with unique Etrurian capitals. Thirteen matrimonial funerary niches, painted with red pillows, domestic items, and animals, provide a glimpse into the life of a prosperous Etruscan family from the 4th and 3rd Centuries.

• Necropoli dei Monterozzi - The Monterozzi necropolis in Tarquinia is also renowned for its painted tombs, carved into rock and accessible via inclined corridors or stairways. Primarily designed for one couple, it consists of a single burial room. The earliest painted tombs date back to the 7th Century, but it was only from the 6th Century that they were fully adorned with frescoes. Among the most famous is the Tomb of the Lionesses from the 4th Century, featuring a small room with a two-sloped roof. The artwork depicts birds flying and dolphins leaping around scenes of Etruscan aristocracy. The Hunter’s Tomb, also from the 4th Century, resembles the interior of a tent, with a wooden support structure. The Tomb of Hunting and Fishing is one of the most renowned and studied, consisting of two rooms. The first room showcases a fresco of a Dionysian dance in a sacred wood, while the second depicts the tombs’ owners engaged in hunting and fishing.

• Exclusive English-speaking tour escort
• Luxury transportation with private chauffeur, including all transfers
• Admission to ‘Monterozzi’ Necropolis in Tarquinia
• Access to ‘Banditaccia’ Necropolis in Cerveteri
• Expert private guide throughout the tour

• Gratuities (optional)
• Food and Beverages

The Necropolises in Cerveteri and Tarquinia, which joined the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2004, stand as unique and exceptional evidence of the ancient Etruscan Civilization, the only urban civilization from the pre-Roman period. These burial mounds, or tumuli, mimic residential structures in their variety of designs; being constructed as replicas of Etruscan dwellings, they represent the only remaining examples of such anywhere. The twin necropolises of northern Lazio faithfully reproduce the urban layout of the Etruscans. The necropolis of Banditaccia in Cerveteri started taking shape from the 9th Century B.C., with expansion beginning in the 7th Century. The developmental timeline of the necropolis of Monterozzi in Tarquinia mirrors this pattern. Both the ornately painted tombs of the noble class and the simpler ones are unique and extraordinary records of Etruscan daily life, ceremonial practices, mythology, and artistic prowess.

• Child rate applies only when shared with 2 paying adults
• A small amount of walking is involved

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.